The Tower Read Online Free PDF Page B

lot better than I had, it was still a task trying to process what had happened so far.
    Fact one: This was definitely not Portland anymore. I wasn’t even in my own universe anymore. There really were parallel dimensions and that was awesome.
    Fact two: Super heroes also existed. It wasn’t some giant costume party, I was wide awake and at the Tower. No DVDs, no computer graphics and voice dubbing like on TV, this was reality, 24/7. It was way cool to think that I’d be able to see all these characters in action. In my universe, I’d only read about the major ones, and had no real idea of these guys and what they could do.
    The next time Deanna came in, I asked her for a laptop. “What do you need to know?”
    â€œI want to find out who I’m living with. I’ve got a lot of new people to meet.” With that, she just smiled and brought in a small computer, about the size of a paperback. Logging onto their “Factapaedia” section on the Internet I found out all the names and their abilities. The names were different from the comics but their powers were still major cool. Just a few of the standouts I read about:
    PowerGuy was a political refugee from another planet. He’d crash-landed on Earth and the accident fused a kind of “power-enhancement” suit to his body which drew ambient energy from this Earth’s atmosphere giving him great strength and enabling him to fly.
    Black Guardsman used his suit to form shields: Metal, plastic, or something else. That was all he could do. He could make them with the energy from his suit by just saying “metal shield” or “plastic shield.” I would have loved to have that kind of power.
    Miracle Mistress had been gifted by an unknown alien presence with the power of flight and strength; her sword was unbreakable, and she also had a first-class mind. It seemed she also doubled as the Tower’s nurse. “One of my hidden talents,” she told me.
    One of the mutants on board was called “DragonFlitta.” She was a cross between a dragonfly and a woman and had three pairs of wings. From her description she was supposedly quite exotic-looking; I was interested to see what she looked like as there were no pictures of her available on the Net.
    Avenger came from a poor family. He was self-taught and had made his money in the construction industry. But he wanted more out of life. He trained in the martial arts, learned and grew, and became the hero he was today. A genius at inventing, the strength and speed of five men, and he was richer than Midas. Awesome!
    After reading about all these names and more, I passed out from the sheer excitement of it all and when I awoke, Deanna came in to take me upstairs. “What’s this all about?”
    â€œYour orientation,” she said. “It’s time you met everyone.” Up to the second level we went in the lift, and when we got out of the elevator, Deanna guided me along. We stopped in front of a wooden door. This had to be a special place, as all the other doors were metal.
    â€œWelcome to our Justice Room,” she said, pointing at the door. “Not many regular staff members have ever been invited in.”
    â€œHow many have been here?” I asked.
    â€œYou’re the first,” she answered, and we walked in.
    Inside, Avenger, PowerGuy, and Black Guardsman were all waiting for me, sitting around a small, round metal table. Water pitchers had been placed on the table and all the members had a cup placed in front of them.
    None of them wore capes. They were dressed in what looked like Spandex bodysuits, practically painted on their bodies. All muscle and no fat. Deanna took off her robe and wore her golden bodysuit; she looked to be in great shape. She indicated that I sit down and I did, although I couldn’t keep a goofy smile off my face.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” PowerGuy asked in a mild, friendly voice which belied